On the build up to this year’s Small Business Saturday (6 December), Cumberland Council is encouraging residents to shop local and support local businesses.
Working alongside town councils, the Council has lined up a series of festive events designed to attract visitors and showcase the wealth of shops and traders across the area.
Local traders will be taking part in a series of markets including Carlisle Christmas Markets (6 December and 13 December), our regular markets across Cumberland in Carlisle (Fridays), Keswick (Thursdays and Saturdays), Wigton (Fridays) and Workington (Wednesdays and Saturdays), a Carlisle Market Hall Festive Day on Saturday 6 December and Taste Cumbria Market in Cockermouth on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December.
In support of some events, Cumberland Council is providing free parking in the following car parks on these dates.
Keswick
Friday 21 November - free parking in Central car park from 1pm to 7pm to support the Christmas lights switch-on.
Saturday 6 December - free parking in Central car park from 7am - 7pm to help promote the Victorian Fayre.
Cockermouth
Sunday 23 November - free parking from 1pm to 7pm to support the Christmas lights switch-on. The free parking will be available in long stay car parks: Bitterbeck, Riverside, All Saints, Memorial Gardens and Sullart Street.
Thursday 27 November and 11 December - free parking from 4pm to 7pm to help promote late night shopping. The free parking will be available in long stay car parks: Bitterbeck, Riverside, All Saints, Memorial Gardens and Sullart Street.
Egremont
Sunday 7 December - free parking is available all day in Chapel Street car park to support the Christmas Winter Wonderland event.
Carlisle
To coincide with late night shopping, free parking after 3pm in the following car parks on Late Night Thursdays:
Bitts Park; Lowther Street; Castle; Caldew Riverside; The Sands; Swifts Bank; Viaduct and West Walls car parks free parking after 3pm on Thursday November 27, Thursday December 4 and Thursday December 11.
Workington
The town council will be taking over Udale Street and Ladies Walk car parks on Friday November 28 November at noon to allow for the set-up of the Christmas festival. The car parks will be closed from noon on Friday November 28 until 7pm on Saturday November 29.
Free parking will be available from 11am to 7pm on Saturday November 29 in the following car parks: Allerdale House, Brow Top Annex, Brow Top, Elizabeth Street and Horse Close.
Wigton
Saturday November 29, half of Water Street car park available to be used for fairground rides and various stallholders linked to its Christmas fayre. Free parking will also be available in all council-owned car parks on Saturday November 29 from 7am to 7pm.
Councillor Barbara Cannon, Executive Member for Financial Planning and Assets, added:
“The Cumberland area has a wonderful programme of events planned in the build-up to Christmas, and we encourage both residents and visitors to join in the celebrations.
“We also encourage people to shop local and support local businesses. Supporting these festivities not only brings our communities together, but also helps our local businesses thrive. We’re delighted to be offering free parking on key dates, and we hope this will make it even easier for people to enjoy our towns and city during this special season.”
Carlisle was one of the locations to be visited by Small Business Saturday’s national roadshow on Monday 10 November, as part of plans to celebrate the nation’s favourite small businesses.
‘The Tour’ is a month-long nationwide roadshow, visiting and spotlighting some of the UK’s most inspiring small businesses, as part of the countdown to Small Business Saturday on 6 December.
For a full list of events planned for the Cumberland area, visit www.discovercarlisle.co.uk and www.westernlakedistrict.com.
For more information on Small Business Saturday and to get involved in The Tour visit https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com